The National tribune., 1887-12-01
ROANOKE ISLAND.
A Review Of the Article by Col.
Hawkins, 9th N. Y.
by WILL L. WEIGH, co. a, ODD MASS, BOSTON,
MASS.

Sometime ago Col, Hawkins, Sth N, T., NJ
tempted 60 prove that the assertion IN my
former communication relative 10 laWkinss
Zouaves at Roanoke Island, was untrue. un-
called Tor, and unjust i asserted that Haw-
kins's Zouaves did not charge into the battery
on Roanoke Island. Feb. {, 1862, as rs gener-
ally published ia histories OF the war; that
they did not take the battery and further
more, that they broke under fire. aud proved
my assertions by quotations from reliable
sources aud Official reports This was done IN
the interest OF truth, and not Tor the dlscreat
ofany regiment or regiments.
will show in this article that Col. haW-
lins 20 prove his case aUd discredit my STAKE
ments, has jugglod with the reports ne quotes,
aud quotes only such parts and such ways Ihal
his story seems true and perfect while m TACT
the reports If quoted ia their entirety, prove
him wrong every time.
Col. Hawkins says:
Tile main question was and is, Whose command
made the attack that was the immediate cause OF
tile rebels leHving then Notification? My beei y
that ID was the 9th y. V, aud i rely particularly
upon The report of Gen. Parke, who saw the Whole
movement Of that regiment. and reported eAaelly
what lac saw. and this report ~ sustained 10y many
others, Official and Otherwise, which are ehNl4eu 10
credit
lie gives the following as the report OF Gen.
Parke:
The 9th n. Y. arriving upon the ground,
was ordered follow the 4th n. aud turn the leit
flank of the enemv's battery. The regiment, under
fhc command of Col Rush c. Hawkins, entered
the clearing with great spirit
ID being now ascertained that the natural obsh-
clcs on this line Of so serious character iat
the delay in the progress Of the troops through te
ewamps great, il was decided To change ille
course OF the 9.h n Y. and an order was sent 10
the Colonel TO turn 60 the left aud charge the bat
terry directly mp the road, and the regiment WIN
hearty yell and a cheer struck into the road ana
made directly for the battery ON the run,
and as soon as the 9th n. y. was reformed IL was
ordered forward and succeeded IN taking some ~
rnriEp
men OF the Richmond Blues, with o. Jennings
Wise at their head. who was badly wounded hhd
trying 10 make his escape in boat across 10 Nag
Head
Now, this books all right; but here is the
part left out aud Col. III. substitutes for 1T
three stars:
The order was given 20 charge the enemy with
fixed bayoneis This WAS done in gallant style,
Mai Kiniall taking The lead The Major was very
conspicuous during the movement, aud j take
great pleasure in commanding him TO your favor
able notice. Before reaching the intrenchment Tie
enemy retreated through the timber ia great con-
fusion, abandoning their guns ammunition ana
private property. Gen. Reno started immediately
in pursuit.
IT appears that il there was any charging
Mai Kimball took the lead, although. as Col.
III. quotes, he makes il appear that the Colonel
led OF. Gen. Reno, who, according TO Col. ID,
"reported exactly what he saw" says the enc
my left before Hawkinss Zouaves
REACHED THE INFRINGEMENT.
(see page LOG, Official Records Of War Of the
Rebellion, for aboye.)
Again, Col. Hawkins quotes Gen. John G.
Foster, rs follows:
. After the engagement (which commen-
ced nt o'clock had lasted three and a-hah hours,
the sta n. ". the last Of Gen. Parke's regiments,
coming on the field followed by the gath Mass, !
directed Gen. Parke 90 order IL to charge The
order was given, and the regiment charged on a
run with yell ohecred by the other troops, right
mp the road al the battery.
i 1,.,k Ia. g.,
Gen. Foster, as found on page 81, same vol
ume, in continuation of this quotation made
by Col. Hawkins:
Mai Kimball Of this regiment exhibit ed marked
gallantry leading the charge by several rods. The
enemy lefl the battery. Their retreat WAS. how
ever a necessity from other causes FOR Gen Reno
had nj this time turned the enemys right and was
airing into the rear OF their battery and charging al
the time into them, and the 23d Mass, at the
head OF Gen. Parkss column sent TO turn the enc
my's left had also made lis appearance on th'
other flank. The enemy retreated IN precipitation
leaving three guns unspked, their caissons, and
tle dead aud some wounded In the battery.
Here Gen. Fosterexpressly says that Hawkinsi
ZouaVes did not drive the enemy out of the bat
terry; that they-the enemy-left from othel
causes and he says they went up the road, n
the battery not to it, or into it. Col. Hawkins
quotes as follows from
GEN. BURNSIDE:
Just as the 9Th n. " was entering the woods q
follow the alta r. J., Gems. Foster and ParSe dis
covering that the appearance of Gen. Reno OF tia
enenly,s rign had staggered him, they decided {,
order the 9Th n Y. 10 charge the battery Ia front
which was Immediately done, and at once the roa'
was filled with a sea OF red caps the air resoundni
with cheers. The merit Of first entering
the fort IL claimed by the 2lsi Mass. and the Sis
N. y, a few from each regiment entering at III
same time. one regiment hosting the regiments
nag and the otherthe National flag on the parapci
Let Us turn again TO Vol TX of Records an,
on page Is see what we can find left out Of thi
quotation. It is this:
Tie chnrge OF Gen. Reno's leading regiment ia
2lst Mass and 5lst \. y. was simultaneous with ia
charge Of thc 9lh n Y, when the enemy brok
and ran in Tie greatest possible confusion, Will
tile cheers Of our men indicated 10 everyone on Tia
island tliat we had carried the battery
notice that Gen Burnside doesn't say tina
the 9th N. Y. captured the battery but that TIA
Dist Mass. aud 5lst N. Y. were in first. NOV
comes Col. Hawkins with garbled quotation
from Gen. Reno:
IAeut.-C Potter, OF the 5lst n. Y, lie
Che three companies OF his regiment that first ca
tered the fort, and was one OF the first in.
IL we turn 10 page 80 Of the valuable wor
before mentioned, we shall find that just befor
this quotation as above, and failing right int
It, Gen. Reno says:
Lieui.-Col. Magei's regiment captured the flag I
the fort, aud raised TIC first colors lthc regiments
nag. The 5lst n. y. raised the National Gag o
the parapet.
Docs anyone for minute suppose that
HaWlrins's Iouaves had got into tie batter
first the 2lst Mass. or any other regiment woul
have found anything 10 capture2 Here's
quotation from Col. Ferrcro, 5lst n. Y. by Co
Hawkins
led the LEFT wing down the main road, followC
by the oh ~ y, crossed the road and halted insic
the fort.
Now, this appears on page l04, same volum
as before; but on page lO3 find this, which
also part Of Col. Ferreros report:
The enemy. finding that they were outnanke
commenced TO retreat when the order was give
by Gen Reno 20 charge. The right wing charg,,
left wing.
The quotation Of Col. II. simply explains
continues this line OF report as quoted by M
but Col. III. tries 10 be funny, and says:
Undoubtedly Col Ferrcro meant 20 convey q
ides that lac led las left wing overthe whole Icing
of the corduroy road leading into the eaFthMor
followed by Tie 9Th n y. This certainly il ma
intelligence for the survivors Of that regiment
reflect upon. The idea Of Ferrero's leading III
particular charge is rich Ia the extreme. lie ma
have intended great joke when he wrote n
sentence of his report.
Col. Ferrero undoubtedly didn't mean an
thing OF the kind. He and his command we
200 yards or more
NEARER THE BATTERY
than the Hawkins Zouaves were, aud enter
the road close 10 the battery, aud ahead
them. He does not claim anything that he
not entitled to. Col. Hawkins invites CRITICS
here:
IL IL IL fact that several regiments did WI
they claim. viz made the assault which drove
rebels out how y II that such an assault